Dallas Police Chief David Brown reported in a press statement this morning that “...we cornered one suspect and we tried to negotiate for several hours.”

This simple phrase struck me deeply in light of all the terrible things we are hearing about our nation’s police officers lately. Terrible things, and some of them might be true. We should always wait until all the facts are known before condemning our public servants. That’s what a civilized society does. Those who break the law should be punished, even if they are tasked with enforcing the law. But these tragic incidences should be judged in contrast to what Chief David Brown said his officers did.

While more of our nation’s police officers were killed and wounded in Dallas last night than on any day since 9/11, Dallas police officers negotiated for hours with the lone gunman. They negotiated with him for hours. As a large number of their fellow officers lay dead and severely wounded in the streets, they negotiated. As other officers risked their lives, working the scene to move citizens safely from danger, they negotiated. Even as this man could surely have still murdered other officers and civilians, they negotiated. They didn’t shoot. They negotiated with him for hours. The same happened in Orlando.

This is what police officers in every city of our nation are trained and commissioned to do.

It's police standard operating procedure to shoot only as a last resort. Even when faced with murderous suspects. The wrong actions of a few police officers don't erase the truth that our city’s cops are heroes who put themselves on the line for us every day, even when often abused by those very citizens. (How many of us have shown anger at getting a speeding ticket?)

Let's show our appreciation for these men and women.

Thank every cop you see for their selfless service.

Buy their lunch when you see them ordering at the counter on their break.

Ask them to thank their families for their own significant sacrifice.

Correct others when they speak negatively about the work our officers do.

Our officers stand between peace and chaos in every one of our own local communities. Let’s all do what we can do to make their jobs easier and safer.

Charles Horn,
I’m not sure which police actions you are referring to in Baton Rouge-the shooting or recent protests. But for the gentleman who was shot, this was the 3rd time since 2009 he was caught as a felon (& sex offender) carrying an illegal weapon & resisting arrest.
We have to wait for the investigation process to know what actually happened this time. Just being a sex offender/felon with a concealed firearm certainly doesn’t mean you deserve to be shot, but come on. Three times caught doing the same thing? At some point when you live like that & don’t learn from past mistakes something tragic may happen. In a perfect world it shouldn’t, but in the real world it can.

Posted by Richard A on Monday, Jul, 11, 2016 3:16 PM (EST):

“incidents”, not “incidences”.

Posted by Sean on Monday, Jul, 11, 2016 9:34 AM (EST):

I respect the law, the U.S.Constitution. Respect cops? Usually, but it depends on the cop.
The job of police is to enforce the law, not to protect and serve. The courts have ruled so.

Some gangs wear badges, others don’t. That’s reality.

Posted by Howard on Sunday, Jul, 10, 2016 9:05 AM (EST):

Since the police are so great, let’s hope we all get to live in a police state! It’s a hope that is rapidly coming true! YAY!!!

Posted by Gamer on Sunday, Jul, 10, 2016 1:18 AM (EST):

Heh…...then the filthy murderer got completely liquefied by an RCXD for his capital offense! Love playing Call of Duty!

Let the criminals fear ultimate consequences and these actions will slow down or end. You commit horrific crimes like this and too many others, and you will hang sooner rather than later!

And saves the taxpayer money/circus for the court case!

Posted by Dana Mentgen on Sunday, Jul, 10, 2016 12:25 AM (EST):

I would add to the list, #5) Buy couple dozen inexpensive St. Michael medallions, keep some in your pocket and give them to any officer you meet. Doesn’t matter if he or she is Catholic or not…St. Michael is their patron saint. I would have loved this when I was an active LEO.

Posted by daniel on Saturday, Jul, 9, 2016 9:39 PM (EST):

This is NOT what police officers do in other developed countries. In the UK and Australia for example, the assumption is that the average citizen is not armed to kill. In the US, we want to be able to kill at will.
Living outside these US for some time, I realise that by insisting we have the right to arms, we insist on the right of people to kill police officers if they feel threatened by those officers.

Posted by Dennis Neylon on Saturday, Jul, 9, 2016 11:22 AM (EST):

Mr. Horn, they do condemn those who misbehave. But they do not do it under the glare of tv lights or in front of reporters. They report to their supervisors, or internal affairs or prosecutors. They do not seek fame or glory, like those denouncing police officers to the media, they seek justice. They mourn injustice as much, if not more, than the rest of us, because they see more of it, shift after shift after shift. But most importantly, they seek justice by going through channels, by letting the legal system do its job, how ever slowly or poorly it may do it. Of course, that is how we are all to seek justice, chastising in private,then going to the proper authority, not demanding firings or resignations or jailing like vigilantes or activists demanding immediate justice, rather than through the courts.

Posted by David on Friday, Jul, 8, 2016 9:54 PM (EST):

I agree that everyone including police officers needs to be morally responsible and accountable. Nevertheless they are to be respected since they prevent society from becoming gang warfare.

As I said, they need better training and protocols. So do we all.

Posted by David on Friday, Jul, 8, 2016 8:47 PM (EST):

Police have a thankless job. They are confronted by the most violent criminals in society, who would kill them in an instant if they could, and sometimes they do.

Police are the guardians of civilization.

They are brave in their duty.

They need better training and protocols to subdue evil with minimum force.

But it would be gang warfare without them. They serve us all.

Posted by Charles Horn on Friday, Jul, 8, 2016 5:25 PM (EST):

Police officers need to condemn their own when they misbehave. This is one of the problems of why so many do not trust police officers. The apology always comes reluctantly with a myriad of excuses. Police officers are servants, but when they act the way they have in Louisiana it is right for people to demand explanation and penalties.

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Glenn T. Stanton debates and lectures extensively on the issues of gender, sexuality, marriage and parenting at universities and churches around the world.

He is the author of eight books on families, theology and gender and contributor to many others. His latest two are Loving My (LGBT) Neighbor: Being Friends in Grace and Truth and The Ring Makes All the Difference.